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James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].

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SCENE IX. Kenelworth Castle. Enter King Henry, Queen Margaret, and Somerset, on the Terrace of the Castle.

&mast;K. Hen.
&mast;Was ever king that joy'd an earthly throne,
&mast;And could command no more content than I?
&mast;No sooner was I crept out of my cradle,
&mast;But I was made a king, at nine months old³ ^note

-- 326 --

&mast;Was never subject long'd to be a king,
&mast;As I do long and wish to be a subject⁴ ^note

. Enter Buckingham and Clifford.

&mast;Buck.
&mast;Health, and glad tidings, to your majesty!

&mast;K. Hen.
&mast;Why, Buckingham, is the traitor, Cade, surpriz'd?
&mast;Or is he but retir'd to make him strong? Enter, below, a great number of Cade's Followers, with Halters about their Necks.

&mlquo;Clif.
&mlquo;He's fled, my lord, and all his powers do yield:
&mlquo;And humbly thus, with halters on their necks,
&mlquo;Expect your highness' doom, of life, or death.

&mlquo;K. Hen.
&mlquo;Then, heaven⁵ ^note

, set ope thy everlasting gates,

-- 327 --

&mlquo;To entertain my vows of thanks and praise!—
&mlquo;Soldiers, this day have you redeem'd your lives,
&mlquo;And show'd how well you love your prince and country:
&mlquo;Continue still in this so good a mind,
&mlquo;And Henry, though he be infortunate,
&mlquo;Assure yourselves, will never be unkind:
&mlquo;And so, with thanks, and pardon to you all,
&mlquo;I do dismiss you to your several countries.

All.
God save the king! God save the king! Enter a Messenger.

&mast;Mess.
&mast;Please it your grace to be advértised,
&mast;The duke of York is newly come from Ireland:
&mast;And with a puissant and a mighty power,
&mast;Of Gallowglasses, and stout Kernes⁶ ^note

,
&mast;Is marching hitherward in proud array;
&mast;And still proclaimeth, as he comes along,
&mast;His arms are only to remove from thee
&mlquo;The duke of Somerset, whom he terms a traitor.

&mast;K. Hen.
&mast;Thus stands my state, 'twixt Cade and York distress'd;
&mast;Like to a ship, that, having scap'd a tempest,
&mast;Is straightway calm, and boarded with a pirate⁷ ^note

-- 328 --

&mast;But now⁸ ^note

is Cade driven back, his men dispers'd;
&mast;And now is York in arms to second him.—
&mast;I pray thee, Buckingham, go forth and meet him;
&mast;And ask him, what's the reason of these arms.
&mast;Tell him, I'll send duke Edmund to the Tower;—

-- 329 --

&mast;And, Somerset, we will commit thee thither,
&mast;Until his army be dismiss'd from him.

&mast;Som.
&mast;My lord,
&mast;I'll yield myself to prison willingly,
&mast;Or unto death, to do my country good.

&mast;K. Hen.
&mast;In any case, be not too rough in terms;
&mast;For he is fierce, and cannot brook hard language.

&mast;Buck.
&mast;I will, my lord; and doubt not so to deal,
&mast;As all things shall redound unto your good.

&mast;K. Hen.
&mast;Come, wife, let's in⁹ ^note

, and learn to govern better;
&mast;For yet may England curse my wretched reign. [Exeunt.
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